Jon Lester is one of the many high-profiled pitchers looking to acquire a new contract this season. Several teams are trying to determine price tags on their aces and the Boston Red Sox are struggling to come to agreeable terms with theirs. The trend so far this season has been one-year deals or trades, so which does Lester fall under?
According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the Red Sox and Lester are unlikely to agree on contract terms this season. Initial reports said the Red Sox offered a deal in the range of four years and $70 million and the latest offer from Boston could be five years and $100 million, but Lester's camp would not confirm the numbers. Instead, Lester is choosing to not negotiate a new contract during the season which could open him up to trade talk with the deadline slowly approaching.
"Everybody is hopeful on everything," Lester said, via ESPNBoston.com. "The right time will come when we sit down and talk about it, whether it's tomorrow or four months from now. I don't think 'exploited' is the right word; they took a shot. They put the collective offer out there, that's where they wanted to start off. We had plenty of talks after that as far as money, moving years, moving money, but never got to another offer. Like I said, Opening Day came and went, and we put it on the back burner."
Several teams are in need of a starting arm to help them finish out the second half of the season and according to multiple MLB sources, Lester could be a name that pops up on the radar, joining players like Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee and Ian Kennedy. Lester is not actively seeking a trade from the Red Sox, instead he is extremely hopeful of a return to the team even if it in free agency, but he simply does not want to be a team distraction. However, the more he turns down offers, the more likely it is that he could be sent packing.
"I don't want this to be a distraction for the team. I don't want Jackie Bradley Jr. to have to answer questions about my contract," Lester said. "I hope Boston is the first team that calls me and they don't have to worry about it."
If there is the slightest hint that Lester could be available, several teams will come calling. The New York Yankees might be the first, eager to replace the arms of CC Sabathia and Masahiro Tanaka along with the three other starters they lost this season. The Atlanta Braves are also actively seeking another strong arm to hopeful help with the lack of depth currently on the pitching roster. The Los Angeles Dodgers might also take a glance. The team has been rumored to be interested in another starting pitcher, using their numerous outfielders as trading pieces.
